Jerry Brown as GOP Straw Man

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Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, left, listens as California Gov. Jerry Brown responds to a question in Charlotte, North Carolina, May 2, 1976 when they appeared on a panel before the caucus of black Democrats. Other Democratic presidential contenders on the panel were Idaho Sen. Frank Church and Rep. Morris Udall, of Arizona. (AP Photo)

Updated at 1:06 PM PDT on Thursday, Nov 3, 2011

A new web ad from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is causing a buzz in California political circles. That's because, almost two decades after Gov. Jerry Brown's last run for the presidency, his name and image are being used in that Romney spot.

And it's not flattering.

Jerry Brown Through the Years

The commercial compares Brown to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, asking, "Where did liberals in California get all their bad ideas?"

The ad suggests that California's laws allowing in-state college tuition fees were modeled on similar legislation approved in Texas. It's an attempt to paint Perry, who was fundraising in California this week, as too tolerant of programs benefiting undocumented immigrants.

Brown has been conspicuously absent from presidential politics this year, having skipped meeting with President Obama during several recent visits.

By contrast, the governor's national ambitions were on full display during his first two terms in office, when he ran for the presidency in 1976 and 1980. He ran a final time in 1992, but lost the nomination to Bill Clinton.

During a campaign appearance last fall, Brown was asked about any further presidential ambitions. He jokingly replied, if not for his age, "Hell, you know I'd be running again."